The market for commercial operations which require explosive detection canine teams is increasing.

Quite a few true professionals have been attracted to this expanding market. However, so have a multitude of companies utilizing antiquated and dangerous techniques and employing personnel with questionable and/or limited experience in explosive detection operations.

In order to assist the practitioners in our field with decision making, we offer the following information and questions which should be asked prior to retaining any explosive detection canine service.

 THE COMPANY OPERATIONS:

1. How long has the company been in business and how many years in explosive detection operations does it have?

2. Is explosive detection and incident mitigation the company's primary focus or is it's primary business running a kennel, environmental cleanup, pet owner obedience, etc.?

3. If the company advertises detection dogs for explosives, drugs, cadavers, currency and agricultural products as well as patrolling and search and rescue, how do they remain proficient in any of these highly specialized area?

4. Are the dogs cross trained in reckless combinations, such as having the same dog trained in explosives, weapons & drugs?

5. Does the company have the assets to perform projects or do they outsource to handlers with dogs? If they outsource, how do they, or you, verify and control the quality and capability of the team?

6. Does a company violate client confidentiality by listing client names on advertising, thereby telling the world that the client has a need for protection against bombings, or is client information kept in the utmost of confidence?

 COMPANY MANAGEMENT:

1. What is the experience of the company's management?

2. Are the managers themselves skilled in explosive detection or are they simply marketeers? If a manager spent time as a law enforcement officer was it in a capacity where bomb incident management was the priority?

3. Does the management of the company engage in any other facet of explosive detection operations other than canine or are they limited in expertise?

4. Does the management of the company understand the challenge of bombings in the area of operations? Can they identify which types of explosive compositions are used? Are the dogs trained on these odors? Can the answers be backed up with hard data, training records or other appropriate documentation?

 THE HANDLER AND CANINE TEAM:

1. Do the company's personnel integrate and work well with others or are they aloof?

2. Do the personnel have a good work ethic or do they take every opportunity to "sit in the truck?"

3. What is the experience level of the handlers whom will be assigned to your project? Have they completed at least one tour as a military explosive detection dog (EDD) handler or at least four years as a law enforcement EDD handler? Can the company offer documentation of this?

4. Does the company have an initial training program for new personnel or do new personnel rest on previous accomplishments?

5. What continuing education and training do the company's personnel attend?

6. Does the company make active efforts to cross train with other groups and agencies or are they professionally isolated?

7. Are the handlers qualified in other bomb countermeasures skills or are they simply dog walkers?

8. What do you know of the dogs themselves? Have you met them? Are the handlers proud of showing off their partners skill?

9. Are the dogs appearance, temperament and sociability appropriate for your operations? Is basic obedience lacking? Do handlers have to "fight" with dogs during simple tasks, such a dropping toys? Are the dogs safe around children and other dogs?

10. Is the company willing and capable of discussing individual dogs?

 INSURANCE

1. Does the company have worker’s compensation / employer’s liability insurance?

2. If the company utilizes company vehicles, does the company have automobile liability including hired and non-owned automobile coverage?

3. Does the company have general liability coverage which actually covers explosive detection dog teams? Is the use of explosive detection canines (as opposed to guard dogs) specifically mentioned in the insurance policy riders and the certificates? Please note this question should be posed because in an effort to save a substantial sum of money some groups may have been less than forthright with insurance applications. Since being less than forthright on an insurance application may constitute fraud, insurance companies may not have to cover claims if they occur. This may leave a group’s clients open to unnecessary risk.

 TRAINING AIDS

1. ECI has found that in addition to upfront costs, a budget of at least $4000 annually is required to maintain adequate scent training aids (explosives & precursor chemicals). What is the company's budget?

2. How does the company store scent training aids and do they have all required federal and local permits?

3. Does the company train with the live materials or do they use a lot of simulants?

4. What training aid weights does the company have on hand and on what weights do they train?

5. How does the company prevent cross contamination of scent training aids? If you mention cross contamination, do they even know what you are talking about?

6. What does the company do with older or contaminated scent training aids?

7. Does the company have adequate exemplar training aids (inert devices) such as improvised explosive devices, booby traps, mines to accomplish realistic team training?

 VERIFIABLE INTEGRITY & ETHICS

1. Does the company oppose or encourage clients to verify the teams performance by "planting" training aids without the teams knowledge?

2. Do the teams perform daily training, is training documented and are the records open to inspection by clientele?

3. Solid training techniques are a source of pride. They are not an esoteric secret. Is the company willing to precisely explain all training practices utilized from day one? Is the explanation satisfactory?

4. Does the company know explosive compositions and chemistry? Is their certification list made up of numerous words for the same odor, such as calling RDX based explosive C-2, C-3, C-4, Composition B and Semtex?

5. Is the company willing to candidly discuss not only the benefits, but the limitations of canines?

6. Is the company willing to provide verifiable client references? Are the clients willing to provide reference not only on the company, but on the individual managers and personnel themselves?

 THE BOTTOM LINE

You are putting people's lives in the hands of an explosive detection canine team. Are you sure that your resource is up to the responsibility?